Hello, everyone! My name is Becky and my cat Pearl was recently diagnosed with diabetes. She is a 17.5-year-old Turkish Angora and has been treated for IBD for the past 18 months with 5 mg prednisolone daily. She’s been small her whole life – ranging typically from 8-9 lbs. She’s been on a low-carb, high protein diet for 9 years – all wet food, never dry. All was going well until three weeks ago when Pearl began to get lethargic, lost interest in eating, but drinking and urinating a lot, and her spine (and then hips and shoulder blades) all of a sudden were completely visible. It all happened so quickly.
I was hoping to get some help regarding a few questions, but here's the context in case that helps:
The above of course prompted a vet visit. They found trace amounts of ketones in her urine, a blood glucose of 300, and a UTI. The vet ordered a fructosamine test for confirmation, but the test came back normal. The vet wanted me to check Pearl’s blood glucose again using the AlphaTRAK - Pearl *HATES* the vet, so the vet wanted me to try when she’d be relaxed and stress wouldn’t impact the read. I was unsuccessful getting a read despite repeated attempts. The vet came back over, got the ear poked, and it came back at 400. She said this confirms Pearl has diabetes and that we caught it early (which would account for the negative fructosamine test).
In the 10 days since, I’ve been giving her 1 unit shots of Lantus, twice daily, 12 hours apart. Pearl is kind of doing better – some days more so than others – her appetite is up, she’s more alert (although still spending many days laying in bed), going back to some of her normal routine (she is very routine-oriented!). But despite this, she is looking skinnier and skinner. Not around her belly, but her spine – she looks like a stegosaurus! – her hips, her little legs. It’s like I’m watching her disappear.
I’m so distressed right now and I was hoping someone could help me with a few questions:
1. Is it feasible that she doesn’t have diabetes? The fructosamine test was normal, so could something other than diabetes cause high blood sugar?
2. If the insulin is helping why is she still getting so skinny? This is the part that is most worrisome to me right now. She’s eating plenty and she isn’t actually losing weight! She’s been holding steady at about 7.6 lbs for three weeks – but it’s like her body shape is transforming. I can feel every bone in her back and her hips and shoulder blades jut out – her back legs have turned into little sticks. But her ribs are fine. Her belly is soft and bigger than normal (but maybe not? It could just look that way since the rest of her is shrinking?).
3. 2. I know its a common question, but I’ve poked this poor cat’s ears so many times using the suggestions (warming her ears up, Vaseline, the sweet spot, etc.) and can never get enough for a read. My vet actually kind of poked and then ripped almost to get the blood. There has to be a way to do this that isn’t that, right?
Sorry if this sounds panicky. I am panicking a bit here, honestly. Thank you all for any suggestions or feedback. It is greatly appreciated.
Becky & Pearl
I was hoping to get some help regarding a few questions, but here's the context in case that helps:
The above of course prompted a vet visit. They found trace amounts of ketones in her urine, a blood glucose of 300, and a UTI. The vet ordered a fructosamine test for confirmation, but the test came back normal. The vet wanted me to check Pearl’s blood glucose again using the AlphaTRAK - Pearl *HATES* the vet, so the vet wanted me to try when she’d be relaxed and stress wouldn’t impact the read. I was unsuccessful getting a read despite repeated attempts. The vet came back over, got the ear poked, and it came back at 400. She said this confirms Pearl has diabetes and that we caught it early (which would account for the negative fructosamine test).
In the 10 days since, I’ve been giving her 1 unit shots of Lantus, twice daily, 12 hours apart. Pearl is kind of doing better – some days more so than others – her appetite is up, she’s more alert (although still spending many days laying in bed), going back to some of her normal routine (she is very routine-oriented!). But despite this, she is looking skinnier and skinner. Not around her belly, but her spine – she looks like a stegosaurus! – her hips, her little legs. It’s like I’m watching her disappear.
I’m so distressed right now and I was hoping someone could help me with a few questions:
1. Is it feasible that she doesn’t have diabetes? The fructosamine test was normal, so could something other than diabetes cause high blood sugar?
2. If the insulin is helping why is she still getting so skinny? This is the part that is most worrisome to me right now. She’s eating plenty and she isn’t actually losing weight! She’s been holding steady at about 7.6 lbs for three weeks – but it’s like her body shape is transforming. I can feel every bone in her back and her hips and shoulder blades jut out – her back legs have turned into little sticks. But her ribs are fine. Her belly is soft and bigger than normal (but maybe not? It could just look that way since the rest of her is shrinking?).
3. 2. I know its a common question, but I’ve poked this poor cat’s ears so many times using the suggestions (warming her ears up, Vaseline, the sweet spot, etc.) and can never get enough for a read. My vet actually kind of poked and then ripped almost to get the blood. There has to be a way to do this that isn’t that, right?
Sorry if this sounds panicky. I am panicking a bit here, honestly. Thank you all for any suggestions or feedback. It is greatly appreciated.
Becky & Pearl
